STRIGID^E. 93 



upper surface of the head and nape of the neck is brownish-black, regularly and closely studded 

 with round white spots, generally three or five on each feather, of which one occupies the tip, 

 and the others are in pairs, separated by the brown shaft. On the posterior part of the neck 

 the white spots are larger, and on each side of it there is an irregular longitudinal brownish- 

 black band. The rest of the plumage on the dorsal aspect has a deep liver-brown ground 

 colour, variously spotted with white. On the space between the shoulders, the adjoining parts 

 of the scapularies, and greater and lesser wing coverts, the white spots are few. On the quill 

 feathers the white is disposed in from three to six semi-oval marks on the margins of both webs, 

 those on the inner webs being the largest. These spots are very conspicuous on the second- 

 aries ; but on the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth primaries, they are wanting on the outer 

 webs, their site being merely indicated by a fainter shade of the brown. On the posterior 

 part of the back and tail coverts the white is arranged in transverse bars, and predominates 

 over the brown. The tail is liver-brown, tipped with white, and is crossed by seven distant 

 narrow, somewhat crescentic white bars. 



Under surface. — The long feathers on the sides of the abdomen and thighs, under tail co- 

 verts, and linings of the wings, are white, very regularly and perfectly barred transversely with 

 chestnut-brown bands more than half the breadth of the intervening spaces. The bars on the 

 breast and under surface of the neck are narrower. The vent feathers are soiled-white, and 

 are crossed by some faint brown bars. The under surfaces of the quill and tail feathers are 

 clove-brown, with white spots and bars corresponding to those on the exterior surfaces. 



Form, &c. — Bill nearly concealed by bristly feathers, short, curved from the base, with 

 an obtuse ridge and a very short cere ; cutting margin slightly undulated. Lower mandible 

 notched on the side near the point and truncated at the end. Nostrils small, rounded. Head 

 round, of moderate size. Facial circle small, and incomplete above. Scapulary feathers 

 short. Folded wings falling three inches and a half short of the end of the tail. The 

 third quill feather is the longest, the fourth is scarcely shorter, the second is half an inch 

 shorter, and the fifth three-quarters of an inch shorter than; the third or fourth ; the following 

 ones are each in succession an inch shorter : the first is a little shorter than the fifth, or about 

 two inches shorter than the third. The inner webs of the first four, and the outer webs of the 

 second, third, and fourth, are sinuated. The outer margin of the first primary only has its 

 barbs slightly recurved. Tail long, cuneiform, the outer feathers being an inch and a half 

 shorter than the middle ones. Tarsi and toes short. Inner and middle claws nearly equal 

 to each other, both grooved beneath, and the middle one having a sharp inner edge. The 

 posterior and outer ones smaller, and rounded beneath. Claws partially concealed by the 

 feathers covering!; the toes. 



Inches. 

 Length from the tip of the bill to the end 



of the tail 18 



,, of the tail . . . . 8 



„ of the longest quill feather . 9 



,, of the tarsus . ... 1 



Dimensions. 





Lines. 



Inches. 



Lines, 





Lengtli of the middle toe ... 



9 







,, of its claw .... 



9 







,, of the bill along its ridge . . 1 











„ of the bill from the angle of the 









mouth . ... . . . 1 







